Webisode project promotes Chamorro culture and language

Ketungu’ Chamorro, a Webisode project whose pilot episode was sponsored by the Northern Marianas Humanities Council, seeks to enrich and further the understanding of the Chamorro language and cultural history within Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

Ketungu’ Chamorro is being produced to secure the continuing growth of the Chamorro language and cultural history by producing high-quality Webisodes for the general public, according to producer and director Valentina Rivera.

The projects employ a certified Chamorro language expert to teach cultural and language lessons and encourages audience participation within the show. The proposed series includes 20 episodes, with each lesson focusing on different subjects such as the Chamorro alphabet, numbers, vocabulary words, poems, short stories, and local legends.

“Ketungu Chamorro is designed to restore cultural knowledge within the communities of the CNMI. It is intended as well to extend that information to the indigenous people who are living abroad and would like to continue their studies in the language and historical background of their ancestry. From parents to children, the content will be geared toward obtaining and expanding their views of the Chamorro language and history through the scholar’s lesson plan, which will be properly overviewed and delivered in the best format possible,” Rivera said.

The proposed audience is for anyone interested in learning the Chamorro language as well as the history and cultural background of the CNMI’s indigenous people.

“From parents and their children to spouses and relatives in all walks of life, Ketungu Chamorro should have an open discussion in being able to enhance the knowledge of the Chamorro language and the history of the CNMI to those with a curious mind…” she says.

“The show’s intention is to fulfill the dire need to further the knowledge and expand the audience of the Chamorro language…to the world at large using the Internet. With such an open format, people throughout the world…can continue their studies in mastering the language of the Chamorro people as well as further their understanding and knowledge of the history and cultural background of the CNMI,” she said.

The webisode is hosted and taught by Jennifer Magofna, a former instructor for the Public School System’s Chamorro language heritage studies for six years, whose passion is to pass down and enhance students’ knowledge and welcome new learners of the Chamorro language and culture. She plans to continue to engage in preserving, protecting, and practicing the Chamorro heritage globally through Ketungu’ Chamorro “We Learn Chamorro.”

For more information or if you’d like to sponsor a webisode, call 285-6728 or email riverspictures07@gmail.com.